DOUBLE PAWL SYSTEM FOR VEHICLE DOOR LATCH
A latching system for a vehicle latch, including: a claw for retaining a striker in a primary position of the claw and a secondary position of the claw, the claw configured for movement about a claw pivot between at least the primary position and the secondary position; a primary pawl configured for movement about a primary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and a secondary pawl configured for movement about a secondary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the primary pawl and the secondary pawl retaining the claw in the primary position or the secondary position when the primary pawl is in the engaged position and the secondary pawl is in the engaged position; a disengagement lever configured for movement about a disengagement lever pivot, the disengagement lever being operatively coupled to the secondary pawl, wherein when the secondary pawl is in the disengaged position the claw is free to rotate into the primary position from the secondary position and the claw contacts the disengagement lever to maintain the secondary pawl in the disengaged position as the claw rotates into the primary position from the secondary position.
1 . A latching system for a vehicle latch, comprising:
a claw for retaining a striker in a primary position of the claw and a secondary position of the claw, the claw configured for movement about a claw pivot between at least the primary position and the secondary position;
a primary pawl configured for movement about a primary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and
a secondary pawl configured for movement about a secondary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the primary pawl and the secondary pawl retaining the claw in the primary position or the secondary position when the primary pawl is in the engaged position and the secondary pawl is in the engaged position;
a disengagement lever configured for movement about a disengagement lever pivot, the disengagement lever being operatively coupled to the secondary pawl, wherein when the secondary pawl is in the disengaged position the claw is free to rotate into the primary position from the secondary position and the claw contacts the disengagement lever to maintain the secondary pawl in the disengaged position as the claw rotates into the primary position from the secondary position.
2 . The latching system as in claim 1 , further comprising:
a primary pawl lifter rotationally mounted to the primary pawl pivot, wherein movement of the primary pawl lifter about the primary pawl pivot will also cause a corresponding movement of the primary pawl; and
a secondary pawl lifter rotationally mounted to the secondary pawl pivot, wherein movement of the secondary pawl lifter about the secondary pawl pivot will also cause a corresponding movement of the secondary pawl.
3 . The latching system as in claim 2 , wherein the disengagement lever is configured to contact the claw at one end of the disengagement lever and the disengagement lever is configured to contact the secondary pawl lifter at an opposite end of the disengagement lever.
4 . The latching system as in claim 3 , wherein the one end of the disengagement lever and the opposite end of the disengagement lever are located on opposite sides of the disengagement lever pivot.
5 . The latching system as in claim 4 , wherein the claw pivot, the primary pawl pivot, the secondary pawl pivot, and the disengagement lever pivot are fixedly secured to a frame such that the claw, the primary pawl, the secondary pawl, and the disengagement lever can rotate or pivot with respect to the frame.
6 . The latching system as in claim 1 , wherein when the primary pawl is in the disengaged position, the primary pawl does not prevent movement of the claw from the primary position or secondary position.
7 . The latching system as in claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator operably coupled to the secondary pawl or the disengagement lever.
8 . The latching system as in claim 1 , wherein when the secondary pawl is in the engaged position it will prevent the primary pawl from moving from the engaged position towards the disengaged position.
9 . The latching system as in claim 1 , wherein the disengagement lever is configured to contact the claw at one end and the disengagement lever is configured to actuate the secondary pawl at an opposite end of the disengagement lever.
10 . A vehicle latch, comprising:
a latching system, the latching system including:
a claw for retaining a striker in a primary position of the claw and a secondary position of the claw, the claw configured for movement about a claw pivot between at least the primary position and the secondary position;
a primary pawl configured for movement about a primary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
a secondary pawl configured for movement about a secondary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the primary pawl and the secondary pawl retaining the claw in the primary position or the secondary position when the primary pawl is in the engaged position and the secondary pawl is in the engaged position;
a disengagement lever configured for movement about a disengagement lever pivot, the disengagement lever being operatively coupled to the secondary pawl, wherein when the secondary pawl is in the disengaged position the claw is free to rotate into the primary position from the secondary position and the claw contacts the disengagement lever to maintain the secondary pawl in the disengaged position as the claw rotates into the primary position from the secondary position.
11 . The vehicle latch as in claim 10 , wherein the claw pivot, the primary pawl pivot, the secondary pawl pivot, and the disengagement lever pivot are fixedly secured to a frame such that the claw, the primary pawl, the secondary pawl, and the disengagement lever can rotate or pivot with respect to the frame.
12 . The vehicle latch as in claim 10 , further comprising:
a primary pawl lifter rotationally mounted to the primary pawl pivot, wherein movement of the primary pawl lifter about the primary pawl pivot will also cause a corresponding movement of the primary pawl; and
a secondary pawl lifter rotationally mounted to the secondary pawl pivot, wherein movement of the secondary pawl lifter about the secondary pawl pivot will also cause a corresponding movement of the secondary pawl.
13 . The vehicle latch as in claim 12 , wherein the disengagement lever is configured to contact the claw at one end of the disengagement lever and the disengagement lever is configured to contact the secondary pawl lifter at an opposite end of the disengagement lever.
14 . The vehicle latch as in claim 13 , wherein the one end of the disengagement lever and the opposite end of the disengagement lever are located on opposite sides of the disengagement lever pivot.
15 . The vehicle latch as in claim 14 , wherein the claw pivot, the primary pawl pivot, the secondary pawl pivot, and the disengagement lever pivot are fixedly secured to a frame such that the claw, the primary pawl, the secondary pawl, and the disengagement lever can rotate or pivot with respect to the frame.
16 . The vehicle latch as in claim 10 , wherein when the primary pawl is in the disengaged position, the primary pawl does not prevent movement of the claw from the primary position or secondary position.
17 . The vehicle latch as in claim 1 , further comprising:
an actuator operably coupled to the secondary pawl or the disengagement lever.
18 . The vehicle latch as in claim 10 , wherein when the secondary pawl is in the engaged position it will prevent the primary pawl from moving from the engaged position towards the disengaged position.
19 . The vehicle latch as in claim 10 , wherein the disengagement lever is configured to contact the claw at one end and the disengagement lever is configured to actuate the secondary pawl at an opposite end of the disengagement lever.
20 . A method for retaining and releasing a striker of a latching system for a vehicle latch, comprising:
retaining a striker with a claw in a primary position of the claw and a secondary position of the claw, the claw configured for movement about a claw pivot between at least the primary position and the secondary position;
rotatably mounting a primary pawl about a primary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position;
rotatably mounting a secondary pawl about a secondary pawl pivot between an engaged position and a disengaged position, the primary pawl and the secondary pawl retaining the claw in the primary position or the secondary position when the primary pawl is in the engaged position and the secondary pawl is in the engaged position; and
rotatably mounting a disengagement lever about a disengagement lever pivot, the disengagement lever being operatively coupled to the secondary pawl, wherein when the secondary pawl is in the disengaged position the claw is free to rotate into the primary position from the secondary position and the claw contacts the disengagement lever to maintain the secondary pawl in the disengaged position as the claw rotates into the primary position from the secondary position.